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Discussion on Yearling and Odd Hind Leg Flexing Behavior | |
Author | Message |
Member: teddi |
Posted on Monday, Nov 14, 2011 - 3:54 pm: I'm not sure if this is the correct place to ask this question, but I can't figure out where else to put this post.I have a 19 month old colt who has displayed the following behavior on our last two afternoon walks. He seemed to walk out more slowly than usual, and stopped once or twice to pull his back leg up under his body and flex his hock and fetlock. He only pulled the leg slightly off the ground, and flexed it for a few seconds. He even actually looked back at his leg a couple of times. This has happened with both hind legs, and it appears as if he's uncomfortable, if not in a little pain, when it happens. He is not lame, there is no heat or swelling anywhere on his legs or hooves, and he is not stone bruised. I always work a little with him in hand and/or encourage him to trot and canter around his pasture before we go on our walks – so he’s not coming out cold – although it was very cold on the afternoons he did this (single digits to 15 degrees F). To give you some background; we walk on the dirt roads around my place which are very hard packed with some pebbles and loose rocks. He lives outside 24/7 on approximately .50 - .75 acre pasture with an older gelding. He is not fat (I like to keep my youngsters on the lean side), and gets only a good quality grass/alfalfa mix (approximately 80/20 ratio), 1.5 lbs. Triple Crown 30% Supplement and .50 lbs. Triple Crown Senior daily. He’s an Andalusian, and a fairly easy keeper with a very good appetite. He is a large colt, but his growth is steady and he has not experienced any rapid growth surges so far. He’s always been a very sweet, laid back colt. He rarely gets to running and bucking around his pasture, although he will get very animated at feeding time, or when new horses come by, or when my old gelding gets to feeling his oats and feels like galloping around the pasture. Any thoughts on this? Thanks so much for your input!! |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Tuesday, Nov 15, 2011 - 1:08 pm: Hello Teddy,Besides the possibility that the horse is just stretching, I wonder if this is a very mild Stringhalt developing? For more on this see HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Upper Rear Limb » Stringhalt. DrO |
Member: teddi |
Posted on Tuesday, Nov 15, 2011 - 1:49 pm: Hi Dr. O,Thank you for your reply! I read the articles on Stringhalt, Shivers, Rhabdomyolysis and Myopathy. I don’t believe my horse exhibits any of the symptoms or behaviors of these diseases. It’s difficult to describe properly, but his movement appears very deliberate and slow - not jerky or uncontrolled. There is no shivering or muscle tremble, and there is nothing in his gait or movement that is off in any way. It most closely resembles someone flexing their leg with a muscle cramp, or possibly the way one might pick up their foot when they’ve stubbed their toe. The flexing is very slight, with his foot coming just a bit off the ground. I can almost see him thinking, “ouch…”. He has not exhibited this behavior before (or since), and we have not had a chance to go for walks this week due to the large amounts of snow and ice on the roads. I think it might have just been a muscle cramp, but will monitor him closely and call my vet if he does it again. I’ll also read more articles on upper hind leg lameness. Lots of interesting information there! Thanks again! Teddy |